Wilmette Holds Historic Connection to Rare Winter Sport
State's first curling events were held on rink where senior condos stand.
The Village Green Atrium that sits unassumingly on Ridge Road in Wilmette has an historic and unusual sporting legacy. The long, brick rectangle of 35 affordable housing units for senior citizens was once the nation's only public facility devoted primarily to the old Scottish sport of curling. Curling involves two four-person teams taking turns sliding granite stones across ice towards a circular target, known as the "house." The game somewhat resembles shuffle board or chess on ice. More than 40 years ago, Winnetka businessman Darwin Curtis pioneered interest for the sport on the North Shore. Curtis donated $400,000 in 1967 to build the Curtis Curling Center, according to newspaper articles collected by the Wilmette Historical Society. …
